Hoffman: 8 political moments

Award-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died Sunday, portrayed political characters throughout his career and off-screen was a vocal critic of the American electoral process. Here’s a look at some of the actor’s more notable political contributions:

1. Hoffman delved deep into politics in the documentary “The Party’s Over,” in which he spoke to a number of politicians, pundits and backers and was filmed during the last six months of the 2000 election. Released in 2003, the film followed Hoffman as he attended both parties’ conventions and went to numerous political events to explore the process of democratic elections in the country.

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2. In perhaps his most D.C.-centric role, Hoffman portrayed a campaign manager in 2011’s “The Ides of March.” Based on the play “Farragut North,” Hoffman’s character, alongside Ryan Gosling and George Clooney, pursues their party’s nomination during a heated presidential primary season, taking them to the key battleground state of Ohio.

3. Hoffman, when asked, was candid about his thoughts on American politics. While he was doing press for the “Ides of March,” Hoffman gave a less than confident response on U.S. elections and policy.

“What’s going on in the States right now is that a minority of people are controlling the argument and that’s really maddening,” Hoffman told the Radio Times in a 2011 interview.

“It’s hard not to be disenchanted because every day we read about how nothing can get done and there’s a lot of stonewalling going on,” he added.

4. In “The Master,” Hoffman’s character is inspired by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. His portrayal earned him one of his Academy Award nominations. During the time of the film’s release in 2012, its political undertones were a hot topic of discussion.

5. For 2007’s “Charlie Wilson’s War,” the actor starred opposite Tom Hanks — who portrays former Texas Rep. Charlie Wilson — as CIA agent Gust Avrakotos. The film depicts their efforts to rally support for the Afghans in 1980 against the Soviets.

6. It wasn’t just modern-day politics that Hoffman helped bring to life. Early in his career, he co-starred in a six-part series about the Revolutionary War called “Liberty!” In the 1997 PBS series, Hoffman portrayed Joseph Plumb Martin, a soldier in George Washington’s Continental Army.

7. While Hoffman was not a regular at political rallies, he did contribute to both Al Franken’s Democratic senatorial campaign in Minnesota and the Democratic National Committee, according to campaign finance disclosures.

8. In one of his roles yet to be released, Hoffman stars in “A Most Wanted Man,” a film adaptation of the 2008 John le Carre novel, which takes a critical view of the rendition policies under the administration of President George W. Bush. It premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival.

Hoffman was a New York native and resident of Manhattan. Following the news of his death, lawmakers and other leaders from New York tweeted their condolences.

Still having a hard time reading the reports of Fairport native Philip Seymour Hoffman’s tragic death. We lost a great talent yesterday. -cs— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 3, 2014

Sad about the tragic loss of Philip Seymour Hoffman, a New Yorker born near Rochester and one of the most talented actors of our generation.— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) February 2, 2014

Saddened by Philip Seymour Hoffman’s tragic and untimely passing. Today New York mourns the loss of one of stage and screen’s greats.— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) February 2, 2014